Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-01-29
perseverance in the course above in
ROYAL DINNERS.
Peeps at the Table. Where Things Are
Served in State.


Served in State.
The strict ceremonial of dinners of Queen
Victoria has not changed since her assump-
ton of the throne. A quarter OF an hour
before the time fixed for the repast-gen-
orally S ociock-all the party invited to
dine with the Queen meet in the grand sa-
lon and form themselves into half circle
about the door where she is expected 10 Ell
ter. The Queen, on entering, makes
beautiful courtesy (for which she is re
nowned), then bows 10 the gentlemen, and
gives her hand to the ladies, who courtesy
deeply. She then goes in first TO the table,
accompanied generally by one OF her sons.
If any imperial or royal person is present
he sits at her right hand. But even in the
case of General Grant she placed the Prin-
cess Beatrice between them. The queen
never removes her gloves during dinner,
except at state banquets. This Is slngu-
lar piece of etiquette, and one would think
that il would be exactly the reverse. Her
gloves are new, of white kid, embroidered
with black, never worn but once, and be-
come, after using, the perquisites of the la
dies-in waiting. The Queen has small
but beautiful hand.
As soon as she has finished certain
plat everyone else stops eating of 1t, as
when she finishes her fish everyone else
stops eating fish, etc Alter she has spoken
to her guests on either side, conversation
may become general, but in a subdued Tone
always deferring to the sovereign. Sir
Arthur Helps, who was her Private Secre-
tary, used to tell an amusing anecdote OF
being snubbed by her for telling rather
funny story down the table, among the la
dies-in- waiting, to relieve the monotony OF
a dreary dinner, when the Queen remark
-, - ,ot Sa1
She has, however, a love for fun, and some
times laughs heartily.
The dinners at the Quirinal are far more
simple as to etiquette. The same formally
is observed in the entrance of the King and
Queen, but the conversation is more gen
erai and the Queen does not wear her
gloves She converses in English tiuently
The King only speaks Italian and French,
so the conversation is generally in those
two languages French, of course, is sup
posed to be q universal language.
The dinners of Germany are not long,
but they are formal and tedious, and the
cooking does not commend itself to all
tastes.
The perfection of dinner is found in
London, generally at the house of Embas-
sadors, who combine the excelencies of all
nations with the follies of none. After
asking the consent of the ladies present,
the Italian and Turkish embassies allow
the smoking of cigarettes between the salad
and dessert This fashion prevails in
France and Russia, ladies smoking quite
freely as men. The dinners of the Gar
and the richer Russian princes are models
of their kind. 1t was the Russians who in
vented the idea of serving the dishes all
from the outside; hence a service Ia
Russo, which prevents the tablecloth from
being smeared with gravy and other greasy
substances. The choice porcelain and glass,
the gold and silver, beautiful ornaments
these are the wonder of all travellers who
visit Russia.
The old fashion has returned again of a
sort of elevated tray or little table in the
middle of the table, on which are placed
the choice silver jugs, ornamented pieces,
and the flowers, fruits candied fruits-iE-
deed, the ornamental pieces of the dinner.
This sort of tray, to be at its best, should
be of inlaid wood, bound in silver and of
the time of Louis Quinze. A real antique
of this kind is highly prized in France,
England and Italy. For the breakfast-ta-
bic rotating round china standard, in two
parts, for the jam, honey, butter, powdered
sugar, potted meats, ETC., and other belong
ings of breakfast, is almost universal in
England.-HdrperS Ba5ar.